Safety harness



C. T. LEWIS Feb. 27, 1962 SAFETY HARNESS Filed June 20, 1960 v INVENTOR. CHARLES LEWIIS ATT RNEY? Feb. 27, 1962 c. T. LEWIS 3,022,855

SAFETY HARNESS Filed June 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES Lewvs C. T. LEWIS SAFETY HARNESS Feb. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTQR. (uMzL-Es LL- IS United States aezasss SAFETY HARNESS Charles T. Lewis, RD. Box 4755, Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Enne 20, 196i), Ser. No. 37,213 Claims. (Cl. 1823) This invention relates to safety devices, and more particularly to safety devices for use by workmen in hazardous areas and positions for support and prevention of falling from a platform or area on which the workman is positioned or moving.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use by men working upon derricks in the oil fields, such men being known as derrick men, or workmen in other hazardous positions wherein the workman must move in the performance of his duties; as for example, during certain drilling operations in the oil field, a workman is positioned on a platform high in the derrick, the platform being called a monkey-board. The derrick man working in the derrick is constantly leaning from his position on the monkey-board to connect elevators, grippers and the like to drill pipe, tubing, rods and the like, and also to guide tubing, pipe and the like to and from racks in the derrick whereby it is necessary for the derrick man not only to lean forward but also to move on the platform in performing his duties. It is customary for the derrick man to have a safety belt which is connected to one end of a life line in the form of a rope which has its other end secured to a suitable connector in the derrick, the life line serving to catch the man in the event he falls from the platform and thereby prevent him falling a substantial distance. To facilitate the work of the derrick man, it has been customary to supply what is termed a belly band consisting of a fabric sheet or strip having ends secured to ropes which, in turn, are secured to the dern'ck, forming a sling-like member against which the derrick man may lean in performing his duties of guiding and connecting drill pipe tubing and the like. With such structures, if the derrick man moves back slightly from the belly band strip, it will drop, and when that occurs during movements of the derrick man in guiding or handling equipment he cannot stop to reposition the belly band and the belly band itself in its lowered position can create additional hazard to the derrick man, not only by providing no support where needed but also presenting an obstacle over which he may trip as he moves on the platform.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a safety harness which overcomes the disadvantages of structures heretofore used by providing a novel structure which accommodates anchoring to a life line and also a flexible support maintained in proper position during movement of the derrick man therealong; to provide a safety harness witha wide cushion pad slidably mountedon a safety belt with shoulder straps having ends connected to members slida-ble on the safety belt for shifting the pad and facilitate adjustment of the safety belt about the waist; to provide such a safety harness with a reinforced belt having metal strands extending therethrough and with ring members secured to the pad and encircling said safety belt and extending therefrom to form openings through which a flexible supporting strand extends to facilitate movement of the wearer along said supporting strand; to provide such a structure wherein a life line connector is arranged at the rear or substantially oppositely disposed relative to the pad and rings through which the flexible supporting member or strand extends to eliminate fouling of the life line with equipment being maneuvered by the worker; and to provide a safety harness structure including a safety belt and belly pad with cushion members and reinforcing members, to-

gether with members for receiving a safety line and flexi ble support strand to form a structure permitting the wearer to move freely with maximum safety without discomfort to the wearer.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a derrick with a workman wearing a safety harness embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety belt and pad.

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the safety belt and pad with portions broken away to illustrate the reinforcing strands in the belt.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the safety belt and pad taken on the line 44, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the safety belt and pad with portions of the shoulder straps removed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the band and connecting member with portions broken away to show reinforcing strands.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

While this invention is illustrated in connection with the provision of a safety harness adapted for such uses as required by derrick men in oil field derricks and the like in which a life line connected to a rigid member of the derrick is connected to the harness, and a flexible support member connected to two spaced rigid members of the derrick is movably connected to the harness, it is to be understood that this in no way is construed as a limitation of the application or extent of my invention.

The numeral 1 generally designates a safety-harness which include a body encircling member 2 in the form of a belt or broad band preferably of tightly woven material or fabric webbing, the band being of sufficient length to completely encircle the waist of a man likely to wear the safety device with ends 3 and 4- of said belt overlapping. One end 3 of the band carries a buckle 5 having pins '6 adapted to engage in holes 7 in the opposite end portion whereby the belt may be adjusted to fit the waist of a wearer. The end portion 3 carrying the buckle 5 is preferably provided with a loop 8 to receive the free end 4 of the belt or band 2. The band 2 is preferably formed of two or more layers 9 and 10 of fabric material lying one on the other, with reinforcements 11 such as metal flexible members therebetween. The reinforcements 11 are preferably placed between the outer layer 9 and inner layer 10 with the layers suitably secured together as by suitable fastening devices such as sewing 12. In the illustrated structure, the reinforcements are composed of two stranded wire members 13 and 14 which extend longitudinally for the full length of the band 2, and each has an end secured to the buckle 5 to provide a strong structure due to the tensile strength of the reinforcement but with the fabric layers providing cushioning which prevents the reinforcement from causing excessive pressure and discomfort to the wearer.

The safety harness 1 includes a protective or belly pad 15 preferably of tightly woven webbing or fabric, with a cushion member 16 therein. The central portion of the pad 15 is preferably of substantial width as, for example, in the nature of 9 inches where the band 2 is in the nature of 3 inches wide, and is of suitable length to extend across the front and around to the sides of the wearers waist to provide ample bearing area. The pad preferably has layers of fabric or webbing 17 and 18 with the sponge rubber or cushion layer 16 therebetween, said layers having parallel upper and lower edges 19 and 20 terminating as at 21 in converging edges 22 and 23 whereby the layers have end portions 24 of reduced width. The layers 17 and 18 may be suitably secured to the cushion 16 by adhesive and also by suitable fastening devices such as rows of stitching 25. A third or outer layer 26 of fabric overlies the layer 17 and terminates at the ends of the parallel edges 19 and 20, the layer 26 also being suitably secured in the pad assembly by suitable fastening devices such as the rows of sewing or stitching 25. The intermediate portion 27 of the pad layer 26 is not secured to the layer 17 whereby said intermediate portion 2'7 is spaced from the adjacent face of the layer 17 to cooperate therewith and form a through longitudinal passage 28, thereby defining an elongate loop for receiving the band or belt 2 which is adapted to be sleeved therein to slidably mount the pad 15 on said belt 2. A fabric strip 30 extends longitudinally in overlying relation and is suitably secured as by stitching 31 to the intermediate portion 27 of the pad layer 26 to provide further reinforcement thereto. Ring members 32 and 33 are secured to the pad 15 in a manner to encircle the belt 2 when said belt is in the passage 28. It is preferred that the rings 32 and 33 be of a type commonly termed D rings as they have a shape simulating the letter D. The rings 32 and 33 have straight portions 34 disposed between the layer 17 of the pad and the cushion 16 in a. direction transversely of the passage 28. The ends of the straight portions 34 of the ring are connected by rounded portions 35, said rounded portions extending from the ends of the straight portions through apertures 36 and 37 in the fabric pad layers 17' and 26 whereby said rounded portions extend forwardly and exteriorly of the pad and define loops between said rounded portions and the layer or strip 30 of the pad 15.

The safety harness includes shoulder straps 38 and 39 each of which is made up of a back section 40 and a front section 41. The front sections 41 each have ends 42' secured to the pad 15 by suitable fasteningdevices such as a rivet 43. In the illustrated structure, the ends 42 extend between the layers 17 and 26 of the pad 15 substantially above the rings 32 and 33. The rear sections have ends secured to a connector member 44 as by suitable fastening devices such as rivets 45. The connecting member 44 is preferably formed of hard woven fabric or webbing folded upon itself as at 46 and secured as at 47 to define a loop 48 of suitable size whereby the belt 2 may be extended therethrough to slidably mount the loop on said belt. The connector has a portion 49 which extends upwardly from the fastening 47 and is turned upon itself and suitably secured by suitable fastening devices such as rivets 50 to secure the ends of shoulder strap sections 40 thereto and also to define a loop 51 which mounts a ring member 52 preferably a D ring adapted to be secured to a life line 53. The shoulder strap sections 40 and 41 are joined together in adjusted relation by providing one of the sections of each strap, for example the section 41 with a buckle 54, which has a forwardly extending pin 55 adapted to engage in grommets 56 arranged in a series in the free end of the section 49 whereby when the free end is passed through the buckle the pin 55 engages a selected grommet for suitable length of the shoulder strap to support the belt at the desired position adjacent the waist of the wearer.

The connecting member 44 is preferably reinforced with a pair of flexible metal strands 45'. In the structure as illustrated in FIG. 6, the member 44 is formed of a fabric strip of double thickness and secured together with stitching whereby the strands 45 extend therebetween. The fabric strip is secured to define the spaced loops'48 and 51, and the strands extend around said loops and have ends secured by suitable clamps or fasteners 46. With this structure, the strands 45' extend through the ring 52 and substantially around the band 2 to provide a metal reinforced fastening of the ring 52 to the band 2 that is movable along said belt.

In assembling and using a safety harness constructed as described, the free end 4- of the band or belt 2 is extended through the loop 43 of the connector 4'4 and then 4 through the passage 28 of the pad 15. Then the belt is positioned around the waist of a wearer and said free end 4 engaged with the buckle 5 to adjust the belt for a proper fit at the waist of the wearer with the pad 15 extending across the front of the wearer and the strap sections 41 extending upwardly and with the connector 44 arranged whereby the strap sections 40 extend upwardly. The

strap sections 4t) are then moved over the shoulders of the wearer and the free ends engaged with the buckles 54 to adjust the length thereof whereby the belt and pad are supported partially by the straps to aid in holding the belt and pad in a suitable and comfortable position adjacent the waist of the wearer. If the wearer is a derrick man, he works high in a derrick 57, as for example on a monkey-platform 5S, and a life line 53 connected as at 59 to a rigid portion 60 of the derrick is connected as by suitable connecting device 61 to the safety ring 52. The derrick man usually has to lean forwardly from the platform 58 to guide and move equipment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a supporting strand or sling in the form of a flexible cable or rope 62 has one end 63 suitably anchored to a rigid portion of the derrick as, for example, adjacent a corner post 64. The rope 62 is passed through the rings 32 and 33 across the front of the pad 15 with the other end 65 connected to another portion of the derrick as, for example, the other corner post 66 at the same side of the derrick whereby the rope 62 provides a flexible brace member against which the workman can lean in performing his duties in moving equipment. The pad 15 is always held in proper position and the rope or strand 62 extends freely through the rings 32 and 33 pro- 'viding a freely movable engagement between the safety harness and flexible brace member or rope 62 whereby the wearer may move from side to side of the platform 58. This provides freedom of movement with no danger of slippage of the bracing rope 62 or the pad 15 from approximately the waist position, thereby maintaining the brace rope located regardless of the pressure of the person thereagainst. Also, this arrangement of the harness and ropes provides a dual safety structure whereby if the wearer should slip from the platform his fall would be interrupted by both the life rope 53 and the brace rope 62.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of par-ts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist, means coupling ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, 21 protecting pad including a plurality of fabric layers and a cushion member secured together with the cushion member intermediate said fabric layers, said pad being elongate and having an elongated loop extending longitudinally thereof through which the band extends to slid-ably mount the protective pad on said band, means on said band oppositely disposed relative to said pad and adapted to be connected to a life line, and spaced ring members secured to said protective pad with each ring having a portion passing between the cushion member and next outer layer of fabric thereof and extending in encircling relation to the band in said elongated loop, said rings extending exteriorly of the pad and forming loops to slidably receive a flexible support member.

2. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly Woven material adapted to encircle the waist with the ends of the band in overlapping relation, means coupling the ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a protecting pad including fabric layers and a cushion member secured together, said pad being elongate and having an elongated loop extending longitudinally thereof through which the band extends to slidably mount the protective pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member slidably exteriorly of the pad and forming loops to slidably receive I a flexible support member. a

3. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist, means coupling ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a protecting pad having a plurality of fabric layers and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, said protecting pad being of a length to extend across the front and to each side of the waist, an outermost layer secured to an adjacent layer and defining an elongate passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the'band extends to slidably mount the protective pad' on said band, a connector member having a loop portion slidably receiving the band to mount the connector on said band, said connector member being disposed in opposite relation to the protective pad, a ring secured to said connector member and adapted to be connected to a life line, and spaced safety rings secured to said protective pad with each ring having a portion passing between the cushion member and the next outer layer of fabric and portions extending from the ends thereof forwardly and exteriorly of the pad and in encircling relation to the band in said elongate passage whereby said ring members form loops to slidably receive a flexible support member.

4. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist, means coupling ends of-the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a flexible metal strand within said band and extending longitudinally of said band, at protecting pad having a plurality of fabric layers and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, said protecting pad being of a length to extend across the front and to each side of the waist, an outermost layer secured to an adjacent layer and defining an elongate passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the band extends to slidably mount the protective pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member having a loop portion slidably receiving the band to mount the connector on said band, said connector member being disposed in opposite relation to the protective pad, the. other end portions of said shoulder straps being secured to said connector member, a ring secured to said connector member and adapted to be connected to a life line, and spaced safety rings secured to said protective pad with each ring in encircling relation to the band in said elongate passage whereby said ring members form loops to slidably receive a flexible support member.

5. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist, means coupling ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a pair of flexible metal strands within said band and positioned in spaced relation to each other and extending longitudinally of said band, a protecting pad having a plurality of fabric layers and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, said protecting pad being of a length to extend across the front and to each side of the waist, an outermost layer secured to an adjacent layer and defining an elongate passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the band extends to slidably mount the protective pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member having a loop portion slidably receiving the band to mount the connector on said band, said connector member being disposed in opposite relation to the protective pad, the other end portions of said shoulder straps being secured to said connector member, a ring secured to said connector member and adapted to be connected to a life line, and spaced safety rings secured to said protective pad with each ring having a portion passing between the cushion member and the next outer layer of fabric and portions extending from the ends thereof forwardly and exteriorly of the pad and in encircling relation to the band in said elongate passage whereby said ring members form loops to slidably receive a flexible support member.

6. A safety harness structure for use by a workman in a derrick having a platform with spaced members extending thereabove in oppositely disposed relation comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist of the workman with the ends of the band in overlapping relation, means coupling the ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a protecting brace pad having a plurality of fabric layers secured together and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, an outermost layer secured to the intermediate layer and defining a passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the band extends to. slidably mount the pad on said band, a connector member slidably mounted on said band in opposed relation to the pad whereby the pad engages the front and the connector member is at the back adjacent the waist of the workman, a ring secured to said connector member, a flexible rope having one end connected to said ring and the other end connected to the derrick above the platform on which the Workman is positioned whereby said rope serves asa life line, spaced rings secured to said protective pad with each ring having a straight portion passing between layers of fabric and the cushion thereof and an arcuate portion connecting the ends of the straight per tion and extending in encircling relation to the band in the elongate passage and forwardly and exteriorly of the pad to form spaced loops, and a flexible brace member extending through said loops formed by said ring members and having ends connected to spaced portions of the derrick above the platform whereby said flexible brace member is movably connected with the pad-and the workman may lean against the brace member and move relative to the platform in overhanging relation therefrom.

7. A safety harness structure for use by a workman in a derrick having a platform with spaced members extending thereabove in oppositely disposed relation comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist of the workman with the ends of the band in overlapping relation, means coupling the ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a flexible strand within said band and extending longitudinally of said band whereby said strand encircles the waist of the workman, a protecting brace pad having a plurality of fabric layers secured together and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, an outermost layer secured to an adjacent layer and defining a passage extending longitu dinally of the pad through which the band extends to slidably mount the pad on said band, a connector member slidably mounted on said band in opposed relation to the pad whereby the pad engages the front and the connector member is at the back adjacent the waist of the workman, a flexible rope having one end connected to said connector member and the other end connected to the derrick above the platform on which the workman is positioned whereby said rope serves as a life line, spaced rings secured to said protective pad with each ring having a straight portion passing between layers of fabric and the cushion thereof and an arcuate portion connecting the ends of the straight portion and extending in encircling relation to the band in the elongate passage and forwardly and exteriorly of the pad to form spaced loops, and a flexible rope extending through said loops formed by said ring members and having ends connected to spaced portions of the derrick above the platform whereby said flexible rope forms a brace member movably connected with the pad whereby the Workman may lean against the brace rope and move relative to the platform in overhanging relation therefrom.

8. A safety harness structure for use by a workman in a derrick having a platform with spaced members extending thereabove in oppositely disposed relation comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist of the workman with the ends of the band in overlapping relation, means coupling the ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a pair of flexible strands within said band and positioned in spaced relation to each other and extending longitudinally of said band whereby said strands encircle the Waist of the workman, a protecting brace pad having a plurality of fabric layers secured together and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, an outermost layer secured to the intermediate layer and defining a passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the band extends to slidably mount the pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member slidably mounted on said band in opposed relation to the pad whereby the pad engages the front and the connector member is at the back adjacent the waist of the workman, means securing the other end portions of said shoulder straps to the connector member, a ring secured to said connector member, a flexible rope having one end connected to said ring and the other end connected to the derrick above the platform on which the workman is positioned whereby said rope serves as a life line, spaced rings secured to said protective pad with each ring having a straight portion passing between layers of fabric and the cushion thereof and an arcuate portion connecting the ends of the straight portion and extending in encircling relation to the band in the elongate passage and forwardly and exteriorly of the pad to form spaced loops, and a flexible rope extending through said loops formed by said ring members and having ends connected to spaced portions of the derrick above the platform whereby said flexible rope forms a brace member movably connected with the pad and the workman may lean against the brace rope and move relative to the platform in overhanging relation therefrom.

9. A safety harness comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist, means coupling ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the Waist, a flexible metal strand within said band and extending longitudinally of said band, a protecting pad having a plurality of fabric layers and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, said protecting pad being of a length to extend across the front and to each side of the waist, an outermost layer secured to an adjacent layer and defining an elongate passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which the band extends to slidably mount the protective pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member having a loop portion slidably receiving the band to mount the connector on said band, said connector member being disposed in opposite relation to the protective pad, the other end portions of said shoulder straps being secured to said connector member, a ring secured to said connector member and adapted to be connected to a life line, a flexible metal strand in said connector member and extending through said ring and around the loop portion slidable on the band, and spaced safety rings secured to said protective pad with each ring in encircling relation to the band in said elongate passage whereby said ring members form loops to slidably I receive a flexible support member.

10. A safety harness structure for use by a workman in a derrick having a platform with spaced members extending thereabove in oppositely disposed relation comprising, a broad band of tightly woven material adapted to encircle the waist of the workman with the ends of the band in overlapping relation, means coupling the ends of the band together in adjustable relation circumferentially of the waist, a pair of flexible strands within said band and positioned in spaced relation to each other and extending longitudinally of said band whereby said strands encircle the waist of the workman, a protecting brace pad having a plurality of fabric layers secured together and a cushion member between an intermediate and innermost layer, an outermost layer secured to the intermediate layer and defining a passage extending longitudinally of the pad through which theband extends to slidably mount the pad on said band, spaced shoulder straps with each having one end portion secured to said protective pad, a connector member having a fabric strip defining spaced loop portions one of which is slidably mounted on said band in opposed relation to the pad whereby the pad engages the front and the connector member is at the back adjacent the waist of the workman, means securing the other end portions of said shoulder straps to the connector member adjacent the other loop portion thereof, a ring secured to said connector member and adapted to be connected to a life line, a pair of flexible strands Within the fabric strip of the connector member and extending around said spaced loop portions whereby said strands extend through said ring and around said band, and spaced rings secured to said protective pad witheach ring extending in encircling relation to the band in the elongate passage and forwardly and exteriorly of the pad to form spaced loops for connection to a brace rope having ends connected to spaced portions of the derrick above the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,636,459 Chappel July 19, 1927 2,127,034 Kabot Aug. 16, 1938 2,647,293 Wintercorn Aug. 4, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,224 Great Britain Oct, 20, 1932 

